"The presidential debates begin next week.Regardless of which candidate you now support, who do
you think has better debating skills, including the use of language, command of
information, and ability to relate to an audience: [rotate] Al Gore or
George W. Bush?"

"The National
Commission on Presidential Debates decided to include only candidates who receive at least
15% of the vote in major national opinion polls in this falls presidential debates.
Which of the following comes closer to your opinion on this issue? Any candidate who is on
enough state ballots to actually win the presidency should be allowed to participate in
the debates. OR, Only candidates who have achieved a certain level of support should be
allowed to participate in the debates."

%

Anyone on enough
state ballots

50

Only if achieve a
certain level of support

39

Not sure

11

.

"Some
people say that while there should be a cutoff for letting candidates into the
presidential debates, 15% is too high and the limit should be 5% instead. Would you favor
or oppose lowering the limit to 5%?"

%

Favor

45

Oppose

40

Not sure

15

.

"Regardless
of what the limit is, do you think Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan should be in the
presidential debates or not?"

%

Should be

64

Should not be

25

One should (vol.)

3

Not sure

8

.

"Do
you think the presidential debates would be more interesting or less interesting if Ralph
Nader and Pat Buchanan were allowed to participate?"

"As you may know, the
commission that sponsors presidential debates has said that the Reform Party candidates
will not be able to participate in presidential debates with the Democratic and Republican
candidates this fall unless they earn 15% of the vote in national news polls preceding the
debates. Do you think that Reform Party candidates should or should not have to meet this
requirement to participate in presidential debates?"

"Now I'd like you to
think about all the candidates running for president in the year 2000. Do you think that a
presidential candidate should or should not have to answer questions about each of the
following? Please keep in mind that they are not meant to describe any particular
candidate. . . ."

"Which
one of the following statements do you agree with more? (A) After eight years of the
Clinton-Gore Administration, it's time for a change. OR, (B) With the nation at peace and
the economy as strong as it is, we should continue with the Democrats in the White
House."

"Which of these two
statements comes closest to your own views? (A) After eight years of Bill Clinton, we need
to elect a president who can set the nation in a new direction. (B) We need to keep the
country moving in the direction Bill Clinton has been taking us."

"Looking ahead to
the next presidential election, would you like to see a president who offers policies and
programs similar to those of the Clinton Administration, OR would you like to see a
president who offers different policies and programs?"

Form A (N=513; MoE +/- 5):
"If Al Gore and George W. Bush were the only two candidates on the presidential
ballot in 2000, would you be satisfied with that choice or would you want to see a
third-party candidate on the ballot as well?"

%

Satisfied

51

Want 3rd party

46

No opinion

3

.

Form B (N=518; MoE +/- 5):
"Would you favor or oppose having a third political party that would run candidates
for president, Congress, and state offices against the Republican and Democratic
candidates?"